Scribd
Upload
4 views10 pages

Biology and Faith: Science Overview

notes on Biology chapter 1

Uploaded by

maynardeliana
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
4 views10 pages

Biology and Faith: Science Overview

notes on Biology chapter 1

Uploaded by

maynardeliana
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Name: _______________________

Biology Chapter 1
The Science of Life and the God of Life
1A: God and Science
• Look up the Creation Mandate in the Bible and summarize it below.

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

• Many people believe that God and science have nothing to do with each
other. Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Why?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

1.1 - What Is Truth?

Vocabulary

• Creation Mandate • Microbe


• Doctrine of Humors • Logical reasoning
• Doctrine of Signatures • Inductive reasoning
• Spontaneous generation • Deductive reasoning
• Infusion • Truth

1. What does the Doctrine of Humors illustrate about the “truth” of science?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

2. What does the Doctrine of Signatures illustrate about the “truth” of sci-
ence?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Page 1 of 10
3. Briefly explain spontaneous generation. What does this theory illustrate
about the “truth” of science?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

4. Explain the difference in inductive reasoning and deductive reasoning.

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5. How can something be logical and yet untrue?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

6. Evaluate the statement: “Whatever a person believes to be true will be


truth for him.” Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

7. As Christians, we believe that God’s Word is the ultimate basis of truth.


Evaluate the statement: “A person must accept the truth of the Bible by
faith, but that faith is not blind.” Do you agree with this statement? Why
or why not?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

1.2 What is science?

Vocabulary

Page 2 of 10
• Model • Science

1. If the Bible is the source of settled truth, why do we need science?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

2. According to our textbook, what is a model?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

3. Why do models often change?


___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

4. How are models useful?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5. How does our textbook define science?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

1B: The Scientific Method


• What is the scientific method?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

1.3: Using the Scientific Method

Vocabulary

• Scientific method • Research

Page 3 of 10
• Hypothesis • Independent variable
• Experiment • Control Group
• Survey • Experimental group
• Data • Dependent variable
• Biogenesis
• Controlled experiment
1. What is a hypothesis?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

2. What are two ways to test a hypothesis?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

3. List the seven steps a good scientist will go through after constructing an
experiment or survey.

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

4. What is a controlled experiment?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

For questions 21-24, answer according to the example experiment in Figure


1-13, the testing of a hair growth drug.

5. In this experiment, what is the independent variable?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

6. What is the control group?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

7. What is the experimental group?

Page 4 of 10
___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

8. What is the dependent variable?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

9. Why is it important to have only one independent variable in an experi-


ment?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

10. Should we expect to have results that are 100% in support of or


against a hypothesis? Why or why not?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

1.4: The Limits of Science

Vocabulary

• Phenomenon • Workability
• Bias

1. Why can science only deal with physical phenomena?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

2. What is bias? Explain how bias can negatively impact science.

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

3. The goal of science is to find workable solutions to problems. What makes


scientific conclusions workable?

___________________________________________________________________________

Page 5 of 10
___________________________________________________________________________

4. Can science be used to make moral decisions? Why or why not?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5. Why can science not prove a universal statement?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

6. Evaluate the statement: “Science cannot be used to establish truth.” Do


you agree with this statement? Why or why not?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

1C: Biology and the Study of Life


• Define biology.

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

1.6: The Attributes of Life

Vocabulary

• Biology • Organic
• Living condition • Inorganic
• Internal movement • Irritability
• Assimilation • Food
• Reproduction • Life
• Variation

Page 6 of 10
1. Our book lists ten attributes of life which are also listed below in italics.
How many of these attributes must an organism possess to be considered
a living thing?

___________________________________________________________________________

Exhibits movement

2. What is locomotion?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

3. Explain how plants exhibit movement.

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Achieves growth

4. What is assimilation?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Page 7 of 10
Reproduces

5. What is reproduction?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

6. Why is splitting a rock in half not reproduction?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Comes from similar pre-existing life

7. According to Genesis 1:12, God created things to reproduce how?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Has similar chemical makeup

8. What are organic compounds?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

9. What element do all organic compounds contain?

___________________________________________________________________________

Is composed of cells

10. What are cells?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Exhibits irritability

11. What is irritability?


Page 8 of 10
___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Requires energy

12. What is food?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Maintains a high level of organization

13. What happens if the molecules in an organism fall into disorder?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Faces death

14. According to the Bible, why do all living things die?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

1.7: The Study of Life

Vocabulary

• Microscope • Body tube


• Compound light microscope • Electron microscope
• Objective • Reflection
• Ocular • Refraction
• Stage • Resolution

1. Why is it difficult for biologists to limit experiments to only one variable?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________
Page 9 of 10
2. What are three common sources of error in biological studies?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

3. How can the problems stemming from these errors be overcome?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

Page 10 of 10

Common questions

Powered by AI

The theory of Spontaneous Generation illustrated misconceptions in scientific reasoning by assuming that life could arise from non-living matter without empirical evidence. This was eventually refuted by experiments conducted by scientists like Louis Pasteur, who demonstrated through methodical experimentation that microorganisms did not spontaneously arise in sterilized and sealed environments, thereby supporting the principle of biogenesis .

Scientific models are instrumental in understanding complex systems due to their ability to visualize and predict system behavior, aiding in hypothesis formulation and testing. Despite their limitations—such as simplification and assumptions not always representative of reality—they allow scientists to explore scenarios and refine theories over time, adapting to new data and enhancing comprehension .

The Doctrine of Humors illustrates that what is considered 'truth' in science can change over time as new discoveries are made. This perspective emphasizes the provisional nature of scientific knowledge, as concepts that were once widely accepted can be reevaluated or discarded in light of new evidence . This suggests that scientific concepts are not static but evolve as our understanding deepens.

The statement 'Science cannot be used to establish truth' suggests that science, being inherently provisional, deals with theories and models subject to revision rather than absolute certainties. This is accurate in that science is unable to prove universal statements definitively due to its evolving nature and reliance on empirical evidence subject to interpretation . However, it may be inaccurate if interpreted to mean that science offers no reliable knowledge; instead, it provides trustworthy, albeit revisable, understandings of the natural world.

The concept of 'workability' in science refers to how practical and applicable scientific conclusions are to real-world situations. A workable conclusion provides reliable predictions and solutions under specific conditions, allowing it to inform decisions and guide technology or policies effectively. This pragmatic focus ensures that scientific findings contribute meaningfully to addressing societal and environmental challenges .

Biologists face challenges in controlling variables due to the complexity and variability of living systems. Ensuring accurate control requires meticulous design and understanding of the system under study. Strategies include using well-defined controls, replicating studies to account for variability, using statistical methods to analyze data robustly, and employing rigorous peer review to validate findings. These approaches help in distinguishing true effects from noise .

Having only one independent variable is crucial because it isolates the cause-and-effect relationship being tested, ensuring that any changes in the dependent variable can be attributed directly to the independent variable. If this principle is not followed, it can lead to confounding variables, making it difficult to determine which factor is actually influencing the outcome, thereby compromising the validity and reliability of the experiment's results .

Bias in scientific research refers to a tendency to influence results in a particular direction due to preconceived assumptions or preferences. It can impact both the process and outcomes by affecting study design, data collection, and interpretation, leading to skewed findings that do not accurately represent reality. Unrecognized bias can perpetuate misinformation, whereas rigorous methodologies and peer review are crucial to minimizing its influence .

In biology, an entity is considered living if it exhibits attributes such as movement, growth, reproduction, response to stimuli (irritability), energy use, cellular composition, and maintains organization. These criteria distinguish living entities from non-living ones by highlighting the processes and characteristics unique to life, such as metabolism and self-maintenance, which non-living entities lack .

Christians hold the theological perspective that the Bible is the ultimate source of truth, which coexists with the use of scientific study. This view influences scientific endeavors by encouraging believers to see scientific models as tools to better understand God's creation, while recognizing that such models may change as they are merely representations of reality and not absolute truth . This encourages an openness to revising scientific models while maintaining a faith-based understanding of the world.

You might also like